Sacred Heart Primary School Mildura eNewsletter

Principal / Executive Leadership Team

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff & Students,

We have a busy week coming up with School Photos, Shrove Tuesday Breakfast and Ash Wednesday Mass. Please have a read of all arrangements for the week and feel free to contact the office if you have any questions.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting with our Student Leadership Team on Thursday morning to talk about the role of a leader and how our student leaders can have a positive impact on our school community this year. They are an enthusiastic group who will do a great job ‘giving our students a voice’.

The season of Lent is a great opportunity to reflect on our own lives, as we strengthen our relationship with God and one another. It is during this special time that we can focus our energies on spiritual and personal growth as we prepare for Easter. We look forward to beginning our Lenten journey this week.

Update on Mr Gibson

Hello everyone,

Last week I informed everyone that I had a medical episode that was keeping me away from school. Medically this has been confirmed as a transient ischemic attack (mini stroke). Fortunately, I have no obvious cognitive or physical effects of it.

Over this week I have had many tests and medical appointments to determine the reasons for the event. With normal signs and symptoms of a stroke not being evident doctors are undertaking further testing to identify what caused this event.

The stroke was minor but significant enough to concern! Now I just need to attend appointments, rest and undertake some early intervention work to minimise long term effects of this event!

As a result, I will be away from school until 8th March. In my absence Mr O’Callaghan will cover for me and I thank him for all that he has done for me to date. I also thank anyone who is offering assistance during by absence

I wish to thank everyone who has enquired and offered support to me over the last week. I was overwhelmed by the level of care and concern from the Sacred Heart Community and feel very blessed to be part of this school.

Thanks again!

Yours sincerely,

Mark Gibson

Swimming Program

Congratulations to our Year 5/6 students who have completed their five day swimming program this week. Students demonstrated a great attitude towards the program and have learnt many new skills throughout the week.

Project Compassion

Boxes will be sent home with families on Monday. Project Compassion is Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. Millions of Australians come together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. Project Compassion boxes can be returned to school by Thursday, 6th April.

School Photos - Monday 20th February

All students are expected to be wearing their ‘normal’ summer school uniform for Monday’s School Photos. Any classes who have PE/Sport on Monday are required to bring their runners to change into for their lesson.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast - Tuesday 21st February

It is exciting this week to come together as a school community to celebrate the beginning of Lent. Our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast will be held on Tuesday morning from 7.50am to 8.45am. Tables & chairs will be set up in the Stadium so families can sit together. We hope to see lots of families coming along for this special event.

Ash Wednesday Mass - Wednesday 22nd February

Ash Wednesday Mass with St. Paul’s will be celebrated this Wednesday at 10am. All parents and friends are welcome to join us for this Mass.

Division Tennis - Wednesday 22nd February

We wish Daisy Barber, Thomas Colbert, Oliver Farnsworth, Mercedes Leal-Kaiser, Baxter McCoy, Archie Wilkes & Jed Woodford all the best at Wednesday’s Division Tennis. This event is being held at the Red Cliffs Lawn Tennis Courts. Mr Burford will attend with students.

Tamarisk Grove Closure - Thursday 23rd February

Please note Thursday the 23rd of February Tamarisk grove will be closed, you will not be able to use Tamarisk for drop off due to construction work happening at St Joseph’s college.

Prep Information session

An Information session is being held this Thursday afternoon for all Prep parents. Mrs O’Callaghan & Mrs Collins will lead this meeting which will be held in Cooinda at 3.30pm.

Assembly

Thank you to the class of Minga (Year 4) for hosting today’s Assembly. Narooma (Year 6) will host next Friday’s Assembly. All are welcome to attend.

Pupil Free Day - Friday 3rd March

A reminder to families that Friday, 3rd March is a pupil free day. Staff will be working with Anne Ruddell from Catholic Education Ballarat on School Wide Positive Behaviour Supports (SWPBS) on this day.

God Bless,

Ryan O’Callaghan

Religious Education

Project Compassion

Families will receive a Project Compassion this week. Spanning across the six weeks of Lent each year, Project Compassion brings thousands of Australian schools, parishes and supporters together to raise funds for people living in some of the most vulnerable communities across the world. Your generous support can help change lives today - and For All Future Generations. We encourage families to support Project Compassion this year. Boxes are due back to the school office on Thursday, 6th April.

Sacrament of Reconciliation - Extra Opportunity for students in Year Three & Above

The Sacred Heart Parish is offering an extra opportunity for any students in Year Three or above who missed out on receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation last year. This will be held on Wednesday, 22nd March at 7pm. Please email ryocallaghan@shmildura.catholic.edu.au if you wish for your child to make this Sacrament or call in to the school office to pick up a Registration Form. Registration for this Sacrament needs to be completed by Wednesday, 15th February.

2023 Sacramental Dates

Confirmation

Parent Information Evening - Wednesday 29th March 2023 @ 7pm SH Church

Sacrament of Confirmation - Friday 26th to Sunday 28th May 2023

First Eucharist

Parent Information Evening - Wednesday 12th July 2023 @ 7pm SH Church

Sacrament of First Eucharist - Friday 25th to Sunday 27th August 2023

Reconciliation

Parent Information Evening - Wednesday 11th October 2023 7pm SH Church

Sacrament of Reconciliation - Wednesday 29th November 2023 7pm SH Church

Learning and Teaching News

Specialist Classes

Each week children attend four, 1-hour lessons with specialist teachers in the areas of Italian, Physical Education, Digital Technologies and Performing Arts.

Over the course of Term 1 the following topics will be covered (depending on the year level of your child).

Italian: Greetings and Introductions, Colours and Numbers, Carnevale/ Easter

Lisa Cirillo - Italian

PE: BluEarth Games, Tennis, Rugby and Cross Country

Jacob Burford - Physical Education

DigiTech: iPad Basics, Book Creator, Explain Everything (P-2), Typing Club, ChromeBook Basics, Scratch, Binary Data (3-6)

Isaac Fabich - DigiTech

Performing Arts: Elements of music: beat, rhythm, tempo and pitch, Notation: Treble stave and note duration or Musical Genres.

Corey Barbary - Performing Arts

Should you ever have any questions or concerns around Specialist classes these teachers will be happy to discuss with you.

Prep Unit News

This week we have worked on learning the sounds ‘s’, ‘a’, ‘t’, ‘p’ ‘i’ and ‘n’. We have been working really hard to learn the correct way to articulate these sounds to help us in our reading and writing. The video below gives a fantastic example of the way to help your child with the articulation of their sounds at home. We have also been working really hard on writing our names the correct way… with one capital letter at the beginning and the rest of the letters being lower case. We have also learnt about syllables in words… check out some of our videos. Ask your child to show you the syllables in their name and other words!

Prep Syllable Practice

Prep Syllable Practice 2

Prep Syllable Practice 3

Next Thursday 23rd February will be our Prep Reading Information Session. We highly recommend that you attend this meeting to gain an insight on how we teach reading (and writing) at school and the things we would like you to do at home.

A friendly reminder that ALL students should have their own headphones at school please.

Today your child/ren have brought home their school work books, could these please be covered in clear contact and returned to school on Monday.

Reminders:

- School starts at 8:45am each day. If you are at school after 8:45am you will need to sign your child in at the office.

- Each morning the students need to do their jobs before finding something to do.

- The school library books are to be returned on Friday.

- Your child’s library bag needs to be at school every day - kept in their school bag.

- 2 small NAMED containers for recess and lunch so that they fit into our fridge boxes.

- Brainfood needs to be in a NAMED small container and placed on children’s tables in the morning.

- Sports days are Tuesday and Wednesday - sports uniform is needed.

Prep Unit Team Contact Details

Unit Leader: Mrs Rebecca O'Callaghan
Cooinda (Year Prep): Mrs Rebecca O'Callaghan
Wahroonga (Year Prep): Mrs Wendy Collins

Junior Unit News

Thank you for providing our students with rich vocabulary during their show and tell experience. This week our students enjoyed sharing their insights whilst their peers listened attentively and then asked some relevant and insightful questions. After another warm week, we wish you a restful weekend.

Week 5 will no doubt bring extra sparkle, extra energy and extra enthusiasm!

On Monday we have our school photo day with each class being called up for a group photo, then individual photo. If you would like to order a family photo, please ensure you have completed the online ordering details as soon as possible. ALL STUDENTS NEED TO BE IN FULL SUMMER UNIFORM. (Year One’s may pack runners)

Tuesday we celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a whole school pancake breakfast starting at 7.50am. You are all invited to gather and celebrate the beginning of Lent with the school community.

On Wednesday we will be attending Mass to acknowledge the beginning of Lent and receive the ashes as a symbol of love and hope. You are very welcome to join us.

Year One and Two students brought home reading comprehension books on Monday this week. These need to be returned to school each Friday (along with their library books) to ensure that they are returned and ready for other students to borrow.

Year Two work books will come home this afternoon to be contacted and will need to be back at school on Monday.

Year One students have been introduced to the words: ‘were, have, put, them, there, they’ this week. Next week we will be focusing on reading, spelling and writing these in sentences. These words are located on page 15 in student diaries.

Junior Unit Team Contact Details

Click on the teacher's name if you wish to email them.

Unit Leader: Mrs Katrina Groves
Karinya (Year 1): Mrs Katrina Groves (Monday-Thursday) & Mrs Christine Sherry (Friday)
Bundaleer (Year 1): Miss Hayley Moore
Barramunga (Year 2): Mrs Chris Carmichael
Nangare: (Year 2): Mrs Danielle Gunn (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday) & Mrs Christine Sherry (Wednesday)

Middle Unit News

Headphones

In Year Three and Four it is expected that students bring in a pair of headphones to use on their ChromeBooks daily. If your child has not yet brought a set in, can this please be arranged over the weekend.

Year 3 Teachers would also appreciate it if your child can supply a sock or cloth to use as a whiteboard eraser. These will be kept in classroom tubs for students to use when required.

Homework

For the remainder of Term 1 students will have a nightly reading log with times tables at the back to practice. As a class, students will be practising their times tables and once the teacher is confident in the students’ recall of the numbered multiplication this will be coloured in the back of their reading log. We ask that the reading log is brought to school each day and students are strongly encouraged to practise their times tables and read at home each evening. Beginning in Term 2 we will introduce spelling homework.

Year 3 Reading Expectations

Classrooms have a reading tub with a range of levelled texts for your child to read. It is encouraged that students borrow from this tub each morning or when required.

Year Three students are given the choice to borrow from this tub or borrow a library book as their nightly reader. We are supporting students to become more independent in choosing a good book (that suits their reading level) whilst also providing them with guidance.

Year 4 Reading Expectations

Year 4 students go to the library to borrow each Friday. Students are encouraged to choose 2 reading books (one to take home, one to be kept at school) and another free choice book. Teachers will monitor students’ reading material.

Year 4 Camp

Year 4 Roses Gap Camp permissions have been made available on PAM. Please respond with permission for this as soon as possible. Further details about the camp will be provided in the coming weeks.

Students will need to wear their full summer uniform on Monday for our School Photos. Students in Mootwingee can bring their runners along to change into for PE in the afternoon.

Just a reminder that students should not be bringing items from home to school. This is because items can be very easily lost or damaged. This includes toys, balls and fidgets.

Middle Unit Team Contact Details

Click on the teacher's name if you wish to email them.

Unit Leader: Miss Sophie Price
Amaroo (Year 3): Mrs Sarah Beckwith
Yongana (Year 3): Mrs Georgina Whitehouse
Mootwingee (Year 3): Mrs Jaimi Willersdorf
Minga (Year 3): Miss Sophie Price
Eumeralla (Year 3): Miss Rosie Lennox

Senior Unit News

Students have had a great week participating in our Swim & Survive Program. They have learnt many new skills and refined their swimming technique.

Year 6 students are welcome to bring their sports uniform and runners or just their runners to change into after the photos so they can participate in their Sport lesson after lunch.

YEAR 6 Polo Shirt Update

Totally Workwear wishes to advise that there has been a production error with the sports polo shirts with the incorrect cotton thread used on the polos. This wasn’t picked up until yesterday when collating the orders.

The shirts have been reordered from the supplier and they will make this order a priority. Unfortunately, there are a few steps in the process and they do expect this to be another 3 weeks.

We understand this is frustrating for the families awaiting new uniforms and apologise for the delay.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Thompson directly.

Narooma will be hosting next Friday’s assembly. We look forward to seeing you there.

Interschool Sports Information and Processes

A note was sent home on Monday with students outlining the processes of Interschool Sports and the SSV pathway. Attached for your information is a copy of the note.

Reminders:

Students need their own set of headphones to use at school.
If families have appropriate magazines to send in for use in Visual Arts.

Senior Unit Team Contact Details

Click on the teacher's name if you wish to email them.

Unit Leader Year 5: Mrs. Natalee Johnson
Unit Leader Year 6: Mrs. Loretta Thompson
Illawarra (Year 5): Mrs. Cathryn Rowles
Kyema (Year 5): Mrs. Natalee Johnson
Myalla (Year 5): Mrs. Emma Kotsiakos (Monday-Thursday) & Mr. Corey Barbary (Friday)
Narooma (Year 6): Mrs. Jo Campbell
Dourim (Year 6): Mrs. Loretta Thompson
Illawarra (Year 6): Mrs. Amelia Pacher (Monday-Thursday) & Mr. Jacob Burford (Friday)

Library News

Book Club News:

Orders for the Scholastic Book Club Issue #1 are now closed and finalised. Within a fortnight, orders are delivered to SHPS and given to students in their classrooms.

Occasionally, some orders may be on backorder. If this is the case, students usually receive some stickers with a note from Scholastic.

If you have questions or issues with Book Club, please don't hesitate to contact me rather than directly messaging Scholastic.

Ms Zema at azema@shmildura.catholic.edu.au